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We rate it fair to good

Sail Date:
July 2011

Destination:
Bermuda

Embarkation:
Boston

We left at end of July and cruise was pleasant insofar as water and weather. We thought the buffet food was pretty much fair and sort of a slight upscale of cafeteria food. The food in the free restaurants (Aqua and Venetian)barely ever changed in menus, though somewhat understandable out at sea. But sea or not, they should try to set up a few changes in the restaurant offerings every day or so.The ship did not even provide free soda..you pay for virtually everything you drink except restaurant water, coffee, tea, and morning juice.

One thing we did not find convenient was the lack of a common sit-down area where one could relax without being inundated with drink request at about $7-$8 each! Every place you go they really push drinks, even in the "theater" where getting those drinks to people is a very awkward task in trying to pass drinks in the crowd. So, watch the drinks, they add up before you know it.

One thing we definitely did not like was that the casino permits smoking and people sit at machines with their ashtrays in hand. They should definitely ban smoking in that casino as they do in restaurants.

Another big money-maker is photos. They are forever shooting photos and you can buy them at very inflated prices. Not much on TV for kids or even adults other than news and an occasional aged movie. Comedian was not that good. Magician was entertaining and piano player and singer in Atrium lounge were good. Getting off and on the ship was very easy both in Bermuda and Boston. Of course, don't try to bring your own wine bottles aboard unless you don't mind paying $15 each bottle for corking fee. And by all means, don't give your underage kids any alcohol- we saw one couple in big trouble on arrival back in Boston for doing that (security and police). I think the ship needs a few more "senior" activities. Forget Bingo - it's a minimum of $40 to play. Shops on board are pretty good, but again watch that "magic card" charge - you may find a huge charge bill when done cruising if you don't keep track. Ours was almost $1000 ! It adds up FAST and they depend on that happening! If you have prepaid that infamous $12/day tip, be sure you go to the counter in ship in Atrium to tell them or else they will add another $12/day to your account. Seems silly - that should be automatic, but you need to do it or argue later. As far as the pool area, we sat there but were reluctant to go in...as "public" pools can be questionable, at least for us, insofar as health issues. The one thing that bothered us was that we always felt slightly "guilty" sitting down in any area inside the ship as they would ask you if you wanted a drink and sitting without drinking was a bit awkward at times. They should really set aside an area for that. Less